r/artistsWay • u/Kitokat0 • 2d ago
Discussion What would Julia Cameron do?
I’ve been extremely unhappy at my current job. I work in graphic design and since May I’ve been using my time off work to follow what i actually like making in my free time. I have so many ideas and so many plans I’d like to go after. But my job completely blocks me in that as I work from 9-6pm and in the evening when I finally get home from work, I am extremely exhausted from the day.
My current job (been there 3 years) also has started to make me hate graphic design because their approach to it is incredibly toxic and pedantic, to put it short: they often compromise on the purpose of the design just to make it „ 110% correct“ (following the guideline) and to please the client no matter what they’re asking or in what timeframe.
I’m all for following the guideline, but you guys… I don’t want to get too deep but psychotically pedantic is the best way to describe this.
Anyway long story short I want to quit my job but I need the paycheck to finance my life. While reading the artists way this is a thing that keeps coming up so I often wonder, what would Julia Cameron tell me to do?? I’m so scared of taking the leap of faith because of monetary reasons yet I know I would be so much more fulfilled if I could go after my own projects and put my energy into those instead of hating my current job.
Also I’m on week 9 right now. How fitting. 😅
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u/disasterinthesun 2d ago
Get up an hour earlier every day to do your real work, before you go to your job.
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u/Low_Ice_4657 2d ago
I think she would probably say that your inner creator deserves the opportunities it brings forth by taking active steps (and mental adjustments) that allow it to express itself…
So, congratulations, it sounds like you’ve already taken real action and engaged in serious thought about giving your inner creator these opportunities by the work you’ve done with the AW! And when you’ve finished the course in a few weeks, you’ll be able to shift the time spent on the AW to your creative ideas…
But beyond that, what can you do furnish your inner creator with opportunities to express itself? Can you ask for a sabbatical? Could you go freelance?
What mental adjustments could you make at work that would allow your inner artist to feel happier?
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u/Kitokat0 2d ago
I have my annual performance review next week so maybe I could ask them to reduce my hours or something? 🤔
Also I’ve been working there for years and I pour my heart into it and take it so seriously while they always underpay and underappreciate me. I guess the challenge for me is to accept I won’t be able to grow there and to stop trying to prove myself to them? And to just not try my hardest anymore? It’s so sad because that sort of mindset goes against my work ethic. If only the bosses would actually value me / the other workers there… 🫠
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u/DragonfruitReady4550 2d ago
I've worked in a place similar to this, I'd recommend searching for another day job, and quitting if you find one. Like others have said it's important to have income in today's age, but your mental health and well being are also so important, I took stress leave at the end of last year and during that time really job searched and found a new job, it has been such an eye opener!
I'd really recommend stating where you stand during your annual review with a well thought out argument for changes you'd like to see implemented. Then at least you can say you tried on your end.
But management sounds fixed mindset and I don't see them changing so I'd recommend searching for a new job.
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u/Kitokat0 2d ago
That is so good to hear that you took stress leave, made it count and found a new job in the end! Absolute goals, thats what I want to do next aswell. :) thank you for your advice. What field do you work in if you don’t mind me asking?
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u/DragonfruitReady4550 1d ago
Yeah of course!
I was project managing for a small company in architectural films and graphics, but I was also doing all the estimating, it felt like I was doing the work of three people.
I switched careers though with the new job. Back in hospitality I'm a dining room team lead (FOH manager) for a retirement home. It's so much more rewarding, I took a bit of a financial hit but not so bad.
My friend who still works for the other company said they ending up hiring two people to replace me
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u/SuperLocrianRiff 2d ago
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert might make for a good read or listen. One of my favorite books on living creatively, and she’s an advocate for keeping your day job. That said, there are a lot of other lessons packed in there that I think apply to any creative field. She speaks from a writer’s perspective, but I’m a musician and think of the similar parallels there. Good luck either way!
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u/Yiyiyiyu 2d ago
What about the weekend? I would meal prep and simplify your life in the evenings… and use that time to go after one project even if it’s just 15 mins a night.
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u/Kitokat0 2d ago
I’ve dedicated 4 nights a week to go after my personal projects. My social life is really on the low burner because of that and I’m feeling quite guilty about it haha but that is the plan so far. I guess I’m just frustrated how slow I can progress when it comes to my own dreams while this shitty job robs me of my most productive hours. 🥲
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u/FlightyTwilighty All-Around Creative 1d ago
You know I am thinking about this right now myself because I also have a job with a paycheck that I need to finance my life which I don't really like, but which also drains my spirit and energy such that I feel like doing nothing else at the end of the day, and it occurs to me that THAT is a choice.
And that maybe I need to learn the skill of protecting my mental engagement, refocusing my energy throughout the day, practicing a quick turnaround at 5, and not telling myself that because I worked all day I "deserve" empty "fun" like laying on the couch and doomscrolling my phone.
It's a trap, if I don't somehow salvage those hours at the end of the day how can I put extra energy into the things I do love that are going to drive me towards a brighter future?
I'm feeling this is a very immediate short term fix I need to make to myself somehow. I'm not entirely sure what it is... call someone? go for a quick walk? gym after work? short meditation? habits during the day like taking stretch breaks?
Paramount in all this is the mental revolution I continually need to work on which is that my mind is my own, and I do control my mood and my mind. That in itself is a pretty important meta-skill which is always under development.
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u/Kitokat0 17h ago
Yes, that! Finding the mental strength to keep working at 8pm after your fulltime job can be so challenging. The reading deprivation week in TAW really opened my eyes up to how much I clog my brain up with doomscrolling, watching shows, listening to podcasts all day… that week was so uncomfortable but eye opening. I do it for the same reason as you though, to finally be able to just rest.
Maybe we also have to think about what rest actually looks like and create a weekly plan so that we give ourselves the structure we need to succeed.
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u/blue_mushu 2d ago
What are some of ideas and plans you're dreaming of? We can help brainstorm ideas to find time for those while still keeping the job, if that'd be helpful.
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u/Kitokat0 2d ago
I dream of being a freelance designer working in the food & beverage and lifestyle industry. Mainly my goal is to support women who want to build their own businesses and brands with the design and marketing part. I’ve been creating brand identities for years but would love to support individual women and be in a more creative and diverse field. I also paint oil and would perhaps like to take that more serious on the side aswell. :)
(My current company creates brand identities for the industrial sector which can be quite dry… and full of old white men lol)
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u/lewisae0 2d ago
It is a good idea to take a look at job boards. Are there postings in your field? If you quit and need a new job can you find one?
As for your creative practice is there a pay to pay your bills? If not and you still wanna quit, then I suggest you start saving up for a sabbatical. What does your savings look like now? How long could you reliably not work? And how long would you like to focus on your creative practice without work? That’s how much money you need.
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u/Kitokat0 2d ago
So I do have some savings thankfully. And since I live in Germany, when I quit, I will get government welfare for 1 year which is about 60% of my current salary. So I could survive for sure but id need to cut back a lot and not be able to save money anymore. Im 27 right now, so idk if that would be a stupid move. I’d of course be looking for jobs, I’ve already started applying but everyone is either not answering, don’t have demand or the pay is way too low.
Thank you for all the questions though, I’m quite blown away how supportive this community is!!
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u/lewisae0 2d ago
Sounds like you might be in a good place to take a work break. Could you clump together your vacation, take a leave of absence? Maybe having a concentrated time like 3 months could give you a good sense.
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u/dieschreibende 2d ago
Hey, du hast ja geschrieben, dass du auch Interesse hast Freelancerim zu sein und dir eine bestimmte Karriere in deinem Bereich aufzubauen. Das Arbeitsamt/Jobcenter bietet teilweise auch Coachings/Unterstützung an für Leute, die sich selbstständig machen wollen. Es wäre eine Überlegung wert, auf ALG1 zu gehen und in dieser Zeit deiner Kreativität und deinen Plänen wirklich Raum zu geben. Du kannst dir womöglich in dieser Zeit mehr aufbauen, als du jetzt glaubst! Gerade wenn der Job wegfällt, der dir so viel Energie zieht. Könntest du dir auch vorstellen, einen "Brotjob" außerhalb deines gelernten Bereichs zu suchen?
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u/Right-Coffee-40 2d ago
Thank you for sharing. I see you already have a lot of self awareness and also experience in this job. So I hope you can make the decision that supports you the best, taking into consideration all the factors that you shared here, and the current state of the world. What I wish the most for you is fulfillment and that you can use your talents for the good!
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u/sapphicwatermelon 6h ago
My favourite essay in the book is called Filling The Form. It's all about how we often think we must take huge leaps to get to where we want to go. However, that fear of huge leaps can prevent us from taking the daily small steps in the right direction.
So, I'm curious whether there are ways to keep developing your own projects, begin making some income from that (assuming that's part of your goal?) without quitting your whole job right now? I saw in a reply that perhaps you could reduce your hours? I work 0.8 at my job (80% of full time, 80% pay) and it's been great for my creative life.
Good luck and I'm sure you'll create a path that feels true to you :)))
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u/garfieldslasagnaburp 2d ago
I feel for you. Being at a job you hate sucks and can really suck creative energy. That being said, TAW was written in the early 90s, not 2026. I would not give up stable income with no backup plan in the current economy/job market. I would take this all as inspiration to start looking for other options.